Amritsar

Amritsar

A Brief Introduction

The fourth Sikh Guru, Ram Das found the Amritsar city in 1577. It is built on a site donated by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The Golden Temple is the heart of the city. The city makes it worthwhile for a memorable Amritsar trip. It is the Sikh community’s holiest shrine. A maze of lanes and 18 fortified gateways surrounds it. In 1984, parts of the Golden Temple were badly damaged. In an army operation to flush out extremists inside. They were demanding a separate Sikh Homeland. It is now in its original glory.

Jallianwala Bagh, also a short distance from the Golden Temple. It is the site of an infamous massacre that took place in 1919. According to the 2011 census, the population of Amritsar was 1,132,761 and it is the second most populous city in Punjab. It is a Municipal Corporations in the state out of ten. The city is 217 km (135 mi) northwest of state capital Chandigarh and 455 km (283 miles) northwest of New Delhi, the national capital. The city is near Pakistan, the Wagah Border is only 28 km (17.4 mi) away. The closest major city is Lahore, the second largest city in Pakistan, located 50 km (31.1 mi) to the west.

The Ram Teerath in Amritsar is the Ashram site of Maharishi Valmiki, the writer of Ramayana. As per the Ramayana, Sita gave birth to Lava and Kusha, sons of Lord Rama at Ramtirth ashram. A large number of people visit Ramtirth Temple at the annual fair.

Geography And Climate

Amritsar has a semiarid climate. So plan your Amritsar trip wisely. Typical of Northwestern India, and experiences four seasons. Winter season (December to March) with temperature ranges from 0 °C (32 °F) to about 15 °C (59 °F), summer season (April to June) where temperatures can reach 42 °C (108 °F), monsoon season (July to September) and post-monsoon season (October to November). Annual rainfall is about 681 millimetres (26.8 in). The lowest recorded temperature is −3.6 °C (25.5 °F). The highest temperature, 48.1 °C (118.6 °F). Photos by Mark Itkonen.

Culture and history info

The Golden Temple, the spiritual centre of the Sikh religion was built between 1589 and 1601. It is a superb combination of the Islamic and Hindu style of architecture. Its foundation stone was laid by a Muslim Sufi Saint, Mian Mir. Ahmed Shah Abdali, an Afghan invader virtually destroyed in 1761 but recovered after few years by the ruler of Punjab. He also covered the dome in Gold and embellished its interiors with lavish decoration.

The temple is a city within the city. The main entrance is through the northern gateway known as Darshani Darwaza. It also houses the Central Sikh Museum. On display are paintings, coins, manuscripts and arms, that combine to create a vivid picture of Sikh history. Steps lead down to the Parikrama ( Marble Path Way ) which encircles the Amrit Sarovar ( " Pool of Nectar", after which the town is named ), and the main shrine, the Golden domed Hari Mandir ( " Temple of God "). Several holy and historic sites line the Parikrama, among them a tree shrine called the Dukh Bhanjani Ber, said to have miraculous powers for healing diseases.

Jallianwala Bagh, also a short distance from the Golden Temple, is the site of an infamous massacre that took place in 1919. Hundreds of unarmed demonstrators were gunned down in this enclosed garden on the orders of General Reginald Dyer, who arrived heading a platoon of infantry from Jalandhar, It was an event which helped hasten the end of British rule in India. A memorial to those killed stands at the east end.

Golden Triangle and Amritsar Tour

Agra, Jaipur, Amritsar

Golden Triangle and Amritsar Tour
The Golden Temple in Amritsar is a nice one you should explore whi More info